Portland powers past B-Mets in series opener

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wbng sports

April 21, 2014Updated Apr 21, 2014 at 11:49 PM EDT

Binghamton, NY (WBNG Binghamton) The Portland Sea Dogs collected 11 hits, including two home runs, to defeat the Binghamton Mets, 7-4, on Monday night at NYSEG Stadium. Eight of Portland’s starters registered at least one hit in the opener of the four-game series.

The B-Mets had a threat from the start against Portland starter Henry Owens. Kyle Johnson walked to open the first and Matt Reynolds followed with a single. With two aboard, Brian Burgamy sent a chopper to third. Sean Coyle stepped on the bag, fired to second and Mookie Betts’ relay to first was just in time to complete the triple play.

Portland, riding into the game on a four-game winning streak, struck in the second against Tyler Pill. Blake Swihart started the frame with a single to the right side. The catcher moved to second on a single, took third on a sac bunt and came home on Peter Hissey’s RBI-groundout to second base. Travis Shaw doubled the lead in the third by blasting a 2-0 pitch over the right-field wall for his second homer of the season.

The Sea Dogs extended their lead in the sixth. Despite retiring eight straight following Shaw’s blast, Pill stumbled in the frame. Shaw started the stanza with a single and Stefan Welch brought him home by punching a double to the left-field alley. Swihart followed with an RBI double and scored later in the inning when Henry Ramos singled off reliever TJ Chism.

Binghamton’s offense finally awoke in the sixth. Kyle Johnson reached to start the inning, swiped second and scored when Brian Burgamy bounced a double off the left-field wall. Two batters later, Jayce Boyd made it a 5-3 game with a two-run double to the right-field alley.

Portland responded immediately. Mookie Betts ripped a one-out double off Chism in the seventh and Shannon Wilkerson barely cleared the left-field wall for a two-run shot, kicking the visitor’s lead to four.

The B-Mets had one last gasp on offense in the seventh. Travis Taijeron walked against reliever Noe Ramirez, took second on a groundout and scored on a double by Johnson. It proved to be Binghamton’s last baserunner. Ramirez retired the final five he faced and Miguel Celestino worked a perfect ninth to lock down the Portland victory.

Owens (3-0) allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits over six innings to earn his third win in four starts. Pill (0-3) allowed five runs on seven hits over 5-1/3 innings, his longest start of the season. Celestino collected his first save of the year.

The B-Mets (9-6) continue their four-game series against the Sea Dogs on Tuesday night at 6:35 PM. RHP Hansel Robles takes the mound against RHP Mike McCarthy.